USA Staffing

Position Title: Government Affairs Specialist, GS-301-13 DE
Agency: National Science Foundation
Announcement Number: OLPA-25-12637228 Opens in new window
Open Period: Thursday, December 12, 2024 to Friday, January 3, 2025

For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.

1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference?

A. No, I do not claim Veterans' Preference

B. 0-point Sole Survivorship Preference (SSP)

C. 5-point preference based on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (TP)

D. 10-point preference for non-compensable disability or Purple Heart (XP)

E. 10-point preference based on a compensable service connected disability of at least 10% but less than 30% (CP)

F. 10 point preference based on widow/widower or parent of a deceased veteran, or spouse or parent of a disabled veteran (XP)

G. 10-point preference based on a compensable service connected disability of 30% or more (CPS)

2. Are you a current NSF employee?

A. Yes

B. No

3.
Have you been laid off or received a letter stating that you will be laid off from the National Science Foundation? If so, you may be entitled to selection priority under the under the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP). You must submit the following documents with your application:

copy of your current (or last) performance rating of record; and,
proof of CTAP eligibility

Note: Your proof of eligibility MUST show the position, grade level and duty location of the position from which you were (or will be) separated and your full performance level or career ladder. To ensure you fulfil this requirement, submit an SF-50 (Notification of a Personnel Action) that contains this information along with your proof of CTAP eligibility. Visit OPM's CTAP page for more information on eligibility and required documentation.

Based on the above and the referenced web page, are you eligible for CTAP? If so, you must select "Yes" and provide the required documents with your application package, before the announcement closes.

A. Yes

B. No

4. Have you been laid off or received a letter stating that you will be laid off from federal employment, or have your disability payments from your previous federal employment stopped? If so, you may be entitled to selection priority under the under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) or Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP). You must submit the following documents with your application:

copy of your current (or last) performance rating of record; and,
proof of ICTAP eligibility or proof of CTAP eligibility

Note: Your proof of eligibility MUST show the position, grade level and duty location of the position from which you were (or will be) separated and your full performance level or career ladder. To ensure you fulfil this requirement, submit an SF-50 (Notification of a Personnel Action) that contains this information along with your proof of ICTAP or CTAP eligibility. Visit OPM's ICTAP or CTAP page for more information on eligibility and required documentation.

Based on the above and the referenced web pages, are you eligible for ICTAP or CTAP? If so, you must select "Yes" and provide the required documents with your application package, before the announcement closes.

A. Yes

B. No

5. Are you now, or have you been in the last 5 years, a political appointee?

A. Yes

B. No

1. GS-13: Choose the answer that best describes your experience.

A. I possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the federal service supporting the development and implementation of an organization’s legislative strategy. Examples include: assisting in the strategic planning and execution of government affairs strategy; establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with Members of Congress, Congressional staffs; analyzing science and technology policy for organizational impacts; develops and reviews outreach products for an organization.

B. I do not possess the experience as described above.

2. Selective Factor: I have experience with the Federal legislative process, and with planning and executing government affairs strategies in the areas of science and technology.

A. Yes

B. No

3. Which response best describes your experience working effectively on a wide range of issues with Congressional committees and staff?

A. I have not been exposed to the legislative process.

B. I am familiar with the legislative process.

C. I have occasionally worked with Congressional committees or Congressional staff on a wide range of issues.

D. My work has required me to use my knowledge of the legislative process to regularly work on a wide range of issues and with Congressional committees and staff.

E. I regularly participate in the legislative process to support science and technology policy with Congressional staff and committees.

4. Which of the following activities have you regularly performed? Select all that apply.

A. I have functioned as the point of contact in the legislative clearance process.

B. I have represented my organization's position to members of Congress or their staff.

C. I have prepared speaking notes for senior leaders for speaking engagements, press conferences, and/or other Congressional engagements.

D. I have presented information on legislative issues to Members of Congress and/or their staffs.

E. None of the above.

5. What is your experience participating in the legislative process? Select all that apply.

A. I have developed materials designed to clarify the organization's operations, policies, programs, and activities suitable for presentation to Members of Congress and Congressional staff.

B. I have established and maintained effective working relationships with Members of Congress, Congressional staff members, senior Federal officials, and key members of the external science, engineering, and education community.

C. I have prepared written and/or oral presentations to various internal and external groups to inform them of organizational policies and programs, objectives, and activities.

D. I have gathered, analyzed, and evaluated complex data in order to develop appropriate recommendations for a supervisor's presentation to Members of Congress and Congressional staff.

E. I have disseminated information (both oral and written) on important legislative issues and budget developments to key organization officials.

F. I have prepared and distributed reports of Congressional hearings, mark-ups, legislation, and floor debates pertaining to issues important to science and engineering research and education.

G. I have written position papers, proposals, justifications, and memorandum on a variety of legislative matters.

H. None of the above.

6. Select those that you have experience developing and maintaining relationships with.

A. Internal Senior Agency Officials

B. External Government Agency Officials

C. News media

D. Members of Congress

E. Congressional Staffs

F. Members of Scientific Organizations/Associations

G. State and Local Officials

H. None of the above

7. Which of the following outreach products have you produced? Select all that apply.

A. Research Articles

B. Fact Sheets

C. Talking Points

D. Speeches

E. Presentations

F. Educational Materials

G. Briefing Memos/Notes

H. Correspondence to/from Congress

I. None of the above.

Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).

8. I have experience tracking requirements and coordinating responses related to congressional reports for my organization or agency.

A. Yes

B. No

9. What is your highest level of experience in preparing for Congressional hearings?

A. I have participated in the planning and development of testimony.

B. I have developed briefing materials for activities associated with Congressional consideration of agency budgets or the authorization of agency programs.

C. I have written testimony or statements for key senior officials or Members of Congress and assisted in the preparation of those officials for Congressional hearings.

D. I have presented information to Congressional staffers.

E. None of the above.

10. Indicate your experience developing and coordinating outreach strategies for my organization. Select all that apply.

A. I am responsible for developing and coordinating outreach strategies with colleagues in other Federal science funding agencies.

B. I am responsible for developing and coordinating outreach strategies with the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).

C. I am responsible for developing and coordinating outreach strategies with members of Congress and their staffs.

D. In my previous work experience, I was responsible for developing and coordinating outreach strategies.

E. I am responsible for supervising a staff responsible for developing and coordinating outreach strategies with Congress, other Federal science funding agencies, with OSTP, and with the White House.

F. I do not have this type of experience.

11. Identify your highest level of experience providing advice to organizational staff and leaders regarding the legislative process.

A. I have experience advising senior officials on policy issues relating to congressional matters.

B. I have experience advising senior officials on program issues relating to congressional matters.

C. I have led a team responsible for advising senior officials on policy and program issues relating to congressional matters.

D. I have provided advice to my immediate supervisor on issues relating to congress.

E. I have written reports or memorandums for organizational/agency distribution relating to congressional matters.

F. I do not have this type of experience.

12. Which of the following have you done on behalf of your organization as a regular and recurring function? Select all that apply.

A. I have made presentations about my organization.

B. I have represented my organization's position to internal stakeholders.

C. I have represented my organization’s position to external stakeholders.

D. I am considered a technical expert regarding my organization’s mission.

E. I am regularly called upon to answer questions regarding my organization for the general public.

F. None of the above.

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